Attorney Karen Steger said Mrs. Mahoney filed on the grounds that the marraige is "irretriveably broken." She is asking for the couple's Palm Beach, Florida, home and its contents, a lump sum payment, alimony and attorneys' fees.

Mahoney admited to "multiple affairs" last week after an ABC report alleged that he paid a former aide $121,000 to avoid a a sexual harassment lawsuit. ABC also reported that he had an affair with a local county official who had official business with his office.

In interviews Friday, Mahoney admitted to both affairs and others, but maintains he broke no laws.

On October 13, after the report first surfaced, Mahoney said he was requesting that the House ethics committee review the allegations. "I am confident that when the facts are presented that I will be vindicated," he said in a written statement.

The ABC story said Mahoney began an affair with Patricia Allen during his campaign in 2006. Allen was later hired to work for Mahoney's Florida congressional office. In addition to the $121,000 legal settlement, the story reports that Mahoney secured Allen a job at the consulting firm that handles his campaign commercials.

Mahoney's West Palm Beach area congressional seat was formerly held by Republican Mark Foley, who resigned in late 2006 after his own sex scandal involving inappropriate communication with male House pages.